Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

March 29, 2010

Attorney General Jerry Brown last week filed a court brief arguing that the California Supreme Courtshould not take upSchwarzenegger v. Chiang, one of seven furlough cases that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hopes the high court will consolidate and consider.

(For a review of the furlough fight between the Republican governor and the six Democrats elected to office by statewide vote and the Board of Equalization, click here. A seventh official, Insurance Commissioner and GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner isn't part of Brown's filing to the high court.)

Democrat gubernatorial candidate Brown, who as attorney general is a constitutional officer, submitted a 23-page answer to Schwarzenegger's proposal that makes these arguments:

A transfer would actually slow the appeals process instead of expediting it.

The governor failed to meet the legal standard of seeking the high court's relief "promptly."

The danger of conflicting rulings by the lower courts can be resolved without leapfrogging to the state Supreme Court.

The constitutional officers' appeal involves unique legal questions that set it apart from the other six cases.

The constitutionals also oppose Schwarzenegger's alternative proposal that the Supreme Court consolidate the seven furlough cases in Sacramento's 3rd District Court of Appeal.

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About The State Worker

The Author

Jon Ortiz launched The State Worker blog and a companion column in 2008 to cover state government from the perspective of California government employees. Every day he filters the news through a single question: "What does this mean for state workers?" Join Ortiz for updates and debate on state pay, benefits, pensions, contracts and jobs. Contact him at (916) 321-1043 and at jortiz@sacbee.com.

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